1. They are suitable for heart health

Lemons are rich in vitamin C.

A single lemon provides no less than 31 mg of vitamin C. That’s roughly 51% of the reference daily intake.

Studies have shown that eating vegetables and fruits rich in vitamin C reduces your risk of stroke and heart disease (1), (2), (3).

Apart from vitamin C, lemons’ plant compounds and fiber can be also significantly lower some risk factors for heart disease (4), (5).

A study showed that consuming 24g of citrus fiber extract every day for a month reduced total cholesterol blood levels (6).

The phytocompounds found in lemons — diosmin and hesperidin also have cholesterol-lowering effects (7), (8), (9).

2. Lemon prevents kidney stones

A kidney stone is a lump from crystals of waste products in your kidney.

Kidney stones are common, and people who get them often experience a recurrence.

The citric acid in lemon can help prevent kidney stones by increasing the volume of urine and increasing urine pH, thus creating a less-favorable environment for the formation of kidney stones (10), (11).

125 ml or 4 ounces of lemon juice daily may provide an adequate amount of citric acid to help prevent stone formation in people who have already had them (12), (13).

Studies have also found that lemonade was effective in preventing kidney stones. However, the results are mixed (14), (15), (16), (17).

3. Offers protection against anemia

Iron deficiency anemia is a common disorder. It is caused by a deficiency of iron from the foods you eat.

Lemons contain iron. However, they prevent anemia by improving iron absorption from plant foods (18), (19).

Your gut absorbs iron from animal sources (chicken, fish, and meat) very quickly, but the same cannot be said for iron from plant sources. However, iron absorption from plant sources can be improved by consuming citric acid and vitamin C.

Because lemons contain both citric acid and vitamin C, they may enhance iron absorption, thus protecting you against anemia.

4. The whole lemon improves digestive health

Lemons comprise 10% carbs, mostly in simple sugars and soluble fiber.

Pectin is the primary fiber in lemons. Pectin is a soluble fiber linked to a wide range of health benefits.

Soluble fiber can boost digestive health and slow the digestion of starches and sugars. These may result in lowered blood sugar levels (20), (21),  (22) , (23).

The best way to enjoy the benefits of fiber from lemons is by eating it with pulp. However, you’ll miss out on the help of the fiber if you drink only the juice without the fiber that is always found in the pulp.

Takeaway

Lemons are loaded with vitamin C, soluble fiber, and phytocompounds. These properties are responsible for their many health benefits.

Lemons may enhance weight loss and reduce your risk of anemia, heart disease, cancer, digestive issues, and kidney stones.

Lemons are healthy and have a unique, pleasant, distinct smell and taste that blend well with many foods and drinks.

Disclaimer: Dr. Berner does not diagnose, treat, or prevent any medical diseases or conditions; instead, he analyzes and corrects the structure of his patients with Foundational Correction to improve their overall quality of life. He works with their physicians, who regulate their medications. This blog post is not designed to provide medical advice, professional diagnosis, opinion, treatment, or services to you or any other individual. The information provided in this post or through linkages to other sites is not a substitute for medical or professional care. You should not use the information in place of a visit, consultation, or the advice of your physician or another healthcare provider. Foundation Chiropractic and Dr. Brett Berner are not liable or responsible for any advice, the course of treatment, diagnosis, or any other information, services, or product you obtain through this video or others.